Penticton will be getting no leeway, exemptions or exceptions to provincial regulations on short-term rentals.
City council put their call for flexibility into a letter that was sent Victoria earlier in 2024.
The provincial government responded, and on March 19, the city announced that there would be no exceptions given to Penticton.
Council had proposed options such as limiting short-term rentals to one per owner, limiting them to specific geographical areas, or allowing them for limited periods of time around major events.
The city press release states the province is standing firm on the legislation and that no changes are forthcoming.
This means as of May 1, short-term rentals will only be allowed in units such as a secondary suite or carriage house if the owner of the property lives in the main unit.
“This also means that you will not be able to operate a short-term rental in a non-principal residence, even if you hold a business licence valid for 2024 from the city,” the release states.
According to a staff report for city council in 2023, estimated that roughly half of the city’s then-400 licenced short-term rentals would become illegal after the new legislation takes effect.
A number of properties that were being used as short-term rentals have already hit the market since the legislation was passed in 2023.
READ MORE: Penticton council questions short-term rental changes
People who currently have active business licences for non-principal residence rentals are being asked by the city to email a request to close the account to businesslicences@penticton.ca by May 1, 2024
Partial licence fee refunds will be issued to closure requests provided within 185 days of licence issuance (this date is found on your business licence) as outlined in the Business Licence Bylaw 2012-5020 Section 9.3.2.
Operators who meet the provincial residency requirement will be contacted to confirm they comply with the new legislation.
The city asks that those with questions direct them to businesslicences@penticton.ca.